Decaying wharves to transform into lifestyle precinct

A lifestyle precinct to rival Eagle Street's Riverside dining stretch could be established under the Story Bridge within the next two years as City Hall prepares to release Howard Smith Wharves to the market.

Tenders for the commercial operation of the old sheds stretching along a new boardwalk will be released in a matter of months with council having now completed their $8.5 million restoration project.

But Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said rights to operate the site – which may be released as one master tender – would only launch subsequent to a period of community consultation.

The Howard Smith Wharves development received the green light from the state department last week, following years of political toing and froing, and clashes with local residents.

Cr Quirk said there had already been significant interest in the site, which includes room for a new boutique hotel as well as a sprawling parkland area.

While on an exclusive tour of the site, he said he wanted to see private investment bring restaurants, shops, bars and cafes site “sooner rather than later”.

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“We want to get on and get out to the market,” Cr Quirk said. “It'll be as soon as a proposal that is good enough comes before us.

“This is a golden opportunity – this is a very exciting spot for the city, untapped... But there's also opportunities for art exhibitions or a gallery in fact, and just simple things that won't have a high traffic impact, but which will activate this area.”

Cr Quirk said the bulk of council's investment in the site went towards stabilising the 170 metre long wharf with new piles, girders and decking.

Development of the old wharf buildings would largely be left to the winning contractor, he said, though council had funded the $500,000 restoration of the old Water Police building.

Private developers would also be responsible for meeting new flood-mitigation and heritage preservation conditions attached to the tender, Cr Quirk said.

Eventually the site will connect with the hotly anticipated replacement Riverwalk – a $75 million fixed structure facilitating foot and bicycle traffic from the city through to New Farm and due for completion by mid next year.

This is a golden opportunity – this is a very exciting spot for the city

There will also be a lift built into the cliff face to link the wharf's parklands with Wilsons Lookout.

The Howard Smith Wharves were constructed in 1934 by the Queensland government to provide relief work during the Depression.

Since the 1960s, Brisbane's port activity relocated south of the river.

In early 2000, one of the heritage-listed wharf buildings was demolished after partially collapsing into the Brisbane River.